A Gesture of Hope Amid Disaster: The WBC and the José Sulaimán Fund Support Boxing Clubs in Bahía Blanca

On March 7, 2025, Bahía Blanca (Argentina) experienced the one of the worst natural disasters in its history. In just 12 hours, nearly 290 millimeters (over 11 inches) of rain fell—half the region’s average annual rainfall. This unprecedented event left a tragic toll: 18 people lost their lives, more than 1,450 were evacuated, and material damages were estimated at 400 million dollars.

The consequences were devastating: entire neighborhoods were submerged, the Dr. José Penna Interzonal Hospital had to evacuate patients due to severe flooding, and over 50% of local businesses reported significant infrastructure and equipment losses.

Amid this devastation, the World Boxing Council stepped in to support the Bahía Blanca community. On May 30—coinciding with the birthday of Don José Sulaimán—the WBC’s International Secretary, Marcos Arienti, traveled to Bahía Blanca to deliver an extraordinary $15,000 grant from the José Sulaimán Fund. The aid was allocated to three boxing clubs that had been severely affected by the flooding: “Los Angelitos Box” (led by Eduardo Ojeda), “MyJ Boxeo” (led by Andrea Hidalgo), and “Fe y Esperanza” (led by Luis Chaini).

The initiative was made possible through Arienti’s coordination with former WBC Latin Silver Champion and Bahía Blanca’s Neri Muñoz, and with WBC Ambassador in Argentina, Sebastián Heiland. Together, they mapped out the clubs most impacted by the disaster. In addition, Muñoz—who had lost all his training equipment—received a full set of new gear from the “Corti” brand, including gloves, headgear, and protective equipment, enabling him to resume his training activities.

During his visit, Arienti toured the damaged facilities and took part in boxing classes, sharing moments of resilience and hope with coaches and young athletes. This meaningful gesture by the WBC and the José Sulaimán Fund not only provided material support, but also reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to communities in crisis—proving that, even in the darkest of times, solidarity and sport can serve as powerful tools for recovery and inspiration.

The WBC José Sulaimán Fund: Solidarity with the Boxing Community

Created in 2012 through the initiative of legendary WBC President Don José Sulaimán, the fund that bears his name is dedicated to providing financial and social assistance to boxers and members of the boxing community facing hardship—whether during their active careers or in retirement.

The idea was born after a charity auction held in Las Vegas in partnership with the luxury watch brand Hublot. Since then, the fund has been managed transparently by the Nevada Community Foundation and has helped hundreds of beneficiaries around the world, in countries including Argentina, Mexico, the United States, Nicaragua, and Thailand.

Beyond financial aid, the program promotes access to medical care, emotional support, and reintegration programs. The José Sulaimán Fund embodies the WBC’s spirit of compassion and honors those who dedicated their lives to boxing with dignity and commitment.